Sunday, April 15, 2012

The Lamb of God, St Mary's Church, Saggart

The above photo is the one I should have used for the previous post for Easter. Instead of the image of the Lamb of God from St Patrick's Cathedral (Dublin), I could (and should) have used the lovely image in our own church here in Saggart. Imagine, it was only this afternoon (Sunday) that I really saw this image for the first time. Since it's inside the sanctuary, a protected area of the church that one does not see up close or visit very often, and, furthermore, since it's on the floor, an area one hastens over whenever one does have occasion to be inside the sanctuary, I could be excused for never really noticing it till today. And only today did I make out the scroll on each side of the lamb-image: Adoremus in aeternum sanctissimum sacramentum. Parishioners of a certain age will remember singing that at Benediction long ago.

Benediction, of course, means Blessing, and the priest blesses the congregation with the host in the monstrance. Which brings us to the Eucharist, and the Eucharistic Congress taking place in June. There are, of course, the big events being organised in the RDS and Croke Park for that week (June 10-17, see link, right-hand side of this page), but what is happening in the parish, one may ask? A few volunteers have stepped bravely up to the mark and have been meeting over the past few weeks (under the auspices of the Parish Pastoral Council) to prepare some events. There is no blueprint for this, and we are just doing our best to mark this occasion locally. I know that many people feel it's a bad time to organise such an event, and we sincerely hope we don't come across as a group of 'religious fanatics' in any way. No, we're just a group of people who agreed to do something, something we're not too sure about but which we hope is positive, hope-giving, cheering in some way etc. And if all these good things add up to 'religious', then surely 'religious' is basically ok?

You will have seen the new display boards in the churches. That's one concrete sign of things happening. More such signs, we hope, will be announced soon. Needless to say, all suggestions and offers to help out would be very welcome.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

A Poem/Hymn for Easter

Window from St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin

Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem

This time of year always brings to mind the poem by Katharine Tynan,
'Sheep and Lambs', which you can listen to on YouTube as a hymn. When
we're out in the lovely countryside so near us here at the limits of the
city, we can see the lambs in the fields, and, especially this week,
think of what that poem says about the Lamb of God. Katharine Tynan grew
up in Clondalkin, and there is a fine collection of her works in
Tallaght Library.

The sheep with their lambs

Passed me by on the road

All in the April evening

I thought on the Lamb of God.

Up in the blue, blue mountains

Dewy pastures were sweet:

Rest for the little bodies,

Rest for the little feet.

But for the Lamb of God,

Up on the hill-top green,

Only a Cross of shame

Two stark crosses between.

For times of ceremonies, please see Newsletter below under 'Older Post'.

Welcome

Fáilte andWelcome, visitors to this site for the united parishes of Saggart / Rathcoole / Brittas and Newcastle Lyons in west County Dublin. The site is for the benefit of parishioners first of all and then for anyone who may drop in from elsewhere. 'Rath Dé' on your work as we pray for it on ours.

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Parishes of Saggart, Rathcoole, Brittas and Newcastle Lyons

"In Louisville, at the corner of Fourth and Walnut, in the centre of the shopping district, I was suddenly overwhelmed with the realisation that I loved all these people, that they were mine and I theirs ... There is no way of telling people that they are all walking around shining like the sun". Thomas Merton, Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander.